Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter says the photos he claimed on expenses were purely for ministerial reasons - for a visa for a trip to Lebanon.

Deputy Shatter says they were needed for a visit to Irish troops in the Lebanon in 2013 - and the document was only used for that purpose.

He has said there is no element of truth to any suggestion that the photos were used for a personal passport. A representative of Mr Shatter has this evening contacted Newstalk to say the photos were used for a travel visa, not a passport.

Mr Shatter says he was also requested to furnish all invoices and receipts to the Department of Defence in respect of the photos and associated inoculations.